Expeditions for Life

In 1995, Derek acquired his first sailing certifications with the Canadian Yachting Association. As a member of Sea Scouts (Scouts Canada), his troop acquired 3 sailboats, which they sailed in Lake Ontario. Later in his 20’s, Derek acquired his first sailboat, a 40-foot sloop called the ‘Foot Loose’.

Derek had naturally found himself in a leadership role guiding canoe trips in and around Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada when he was still in high school. Ten years later, he was guiding and instructing with Outward Bound Canada, Canadian Wilderness Trips and Chocpaw Expeditions by dog sled, canoe and kayak.

Derek was qualified as a ACSKG full sea kayak guide in 2007 by Bruce Wilson and Gord Pincock of Evolution Guide School , and he subsequently went on to lead kayaking trips on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada with Pacific Rim Paddling Company and independently.

In later years, Derek helped crew a 44-foot sailboat off the coast from Canada to California. Derek has been teaching dingy sailing to youth on Quadra Island since 2018.